Hillclimb racing returns to Cape Town

An event promising economic and cultural impact

2 minutes read

Hillclimb racing returns to Cape Town – When the roar of 150 engines fades into silence and Philip Kgosana Drive reopens for the Monday morning commute on 27 October, the impact of Speed Classic Cape Town’s weekend hillclimb action will still be felt across Cape Town.

Speed Classic Cape Town is set to take over Philip Kgosana Drive on Saturday, 25 October, and Sunday, 26 October. This marks the return of hillclimb racing to the Mother City. Saturday’s Classic Car showcase will see a range of historic vehicles competing in a celebration of timeless engineering. On Sunday, attention shifts to the King of the Mountain showdown, where modern supercars and speed machines will fight to be fastest on the 1.8km course.

Speed Classic Cape Town – valuable revenue into the local economy

Backed by the City of Cape Town and endorsed by Motorsport South Africa, the event is set to deliver far-reaching benefits. It will raise Cape Town’s motorsport profile, add a high-profile fixture to the City’s bumper events calendar, and inject valuable revenue into the local economy. More than 100 drivers will line up across the two days of racing. Around 10,000 spectators are expected to attend. Also, mechanics, support crews and local food vendors and entertainment who will be bringing extra energy and flavour to the weekend.

“This is an event that has been in the works for some time. Cape Town has a proud, long-standing motorsport culture. The City is always keen to support to ensure this culture continues to thrive by creating platforms that encourage its growth. Speed Classic Cape Town adds to a thriving motorsport ecosystem. One that already generates around R350-million annually. It supports a wide-reaching industry and thousands of jobs in manufacturing, trading, servicing, repairs, parts and accessories.” ~ Alderman JP Smith, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security

Hotels and guesthouses report significantly higher occupancy rates

The economic impact of motorsport in the Western Cape is well-documented. The Cape Town E-Prix in 2023 generated more than R1-billion in economic activity. It also secured nearly R70-million in global media value. Further afield, the annual Simola Hillclimb in Knysna generated R52-million in visitor spend in 2025. Hotels and guesthouses reported significantly higher occupancy rates in the lead-up to and during the event. Underlining the value motorsport brings to local businesses.

The City of Cape Town hosts over 1,200 events annually. This contributes nearly R4-billion to the economy and created job opportunities for its residents.

“Our long-term goal is to set Speed Classic Cape Town as an annual fixture on Cape Town’s events calendar at the end of October as the City starts to usher in its summer season events. We want this event to grow in size and stature in years to come, increase our international competitor base, cement ourselves in the collective consciousness of the international motoring fraternity, and play our part in the City’s growth through our own economic impact on tourism, job creation and skills development.” ~ Speed Classic Cape Town Event Director, Garth Mackintosh.

Approximately 50% of the event’s competitor base comes from outside of Cape Town. International drivers travel from Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.